New Delhi: After facing flak over delinking the schedule from Himachal Pradesh a fortnight ago, the Election Commission on Wednesday announced that Assembly polls in Gujarat will be held on December 9 and 14, asserting that the delay was meant to ensure that relief and rehabilitation work in the wake of devastating floods was not affected.

Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti announcing the schedule for the Gujarat Assembly elections, at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. Pic/PTI